<< Previous   of   Next >> (click to enlarge) Enterprise/CHRIS GOODENOW King's Josh Fuller (from left) nears the finish line in first place ahead of Cole Valley Christian's Mitch Simmonds and Westside Christian's Cameron Colby in the boy's 100 meter dash during the King's Invitational Track meet, Saturday, April 25, 2009 at Woolsey Stadium at King's High School in Shoreline. (click to enlarge) Enterprise/CHRIS GOODENOW King's Olivia Thomas rounds the corner with a comfortable lead in the girl's 800 meter run during the King's Invitational Track meet, Saturday, April 25, 2009 at Woolsey Stadium at King's High School in Shoreline. (click to enlarge) Enterprise/CHRIS GOODENOW King's Curtis Clauson throws his second javelin attempt during the preliminary round of the King's Invitational Track meet, Saturday, April 25, 2009 at Woolsey Stadium at King's High School in Shoreline. (click to enlarge) NOTE: THIS PHOTO IS PART ONE OF A POSSIBLE THREE PART SERIES. ------------------------- Enterprise/CHRIS GOODENOW King's Jean Blatchford clears a height of 12 feet, eight inches in the boy's pole vault during the King's Invitational Track meet, Saturday, April 25, 2009 at Woolsey Stadium at King's High School in Shoreline. (click to enlarge) NOTE: THIS PHOTO IS PART TWO OF A POSSIBLE THREE PART SERIES. ------------------------- Enterprise/CHRIS GOODENOW King's Jean Blatchford clears a height of 12 feet, eight inches in the boy's pole vault during the King's Invitational Track meet, Saturday, April 25, 2009 at Woolsey Stadium at King's High School in Shoreline. (click to enlarge) NOTE: THIS PHOTO IS PART THREE OF A POSSIBLE THREE PART SERIES. ------------------------- Enterprise/CHRIS GOODENOW King's Jean Blatchford clears a height of 12 feet, eight inches in the boy's pole vault during the King's Invitational Track meet, Saturday, April 25, 2009 at Woolsey Stadium at King's High School in Shoreline. (click to enlarge) Enterprise/CHRIS GOODENOW King's Curtis Clauson (center) races alongside Cole Valley Christian's Mitch Simmonds (right) in the boy's 300 meter low hurdles during the King's Invitational Track meet, Saturday, April 25, 2009 at Woolsey Stadium at King's High School in Shoreline. (click to enlarge) Enterprise/CHRIS GOODENOW Shoreline Christian's Leah Werkhoven turns around the bend in the girl's 1600 meter run during the King's Invitational Track meet, Saturday, April 25, 2009 at Woolsey Stadium at King's High School in Shoreline.

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CONTACT THE ENTERPRISE Jocelyn Robinson, News editor jrobinson@heraldnet.com

Knights take boys girls titles

By David Pan
Enterprise Sports editor

If the King's Invitational is a preview of the upcoming tri-district and state track and field championships, then the Knights should be encouraged.

King's swept both the boys and girls titles with a number of stellar individual and relay performances. In the girls competition, the Knights scored 121 points, just ahead of Bellevue Christian, who tallied 106. The King's boys had a little easier time, outdistancing Riverside Christian 111-73.

Knights coach Daunte Gouge appreciated that his teams were able to measure themselves against some top flight competition. Almost every event had athletes whose performances that were among the meet's all-time top 10.

A strong freshman class along with senior standout and defending state 800- and 1,600-meter champion Olivia Thomas were critical to King's taking the girls title.

Thomas won the 800 (2:17.87) and the 1,600 (5;13.09) and also ran on the winning 800 and 1,600 relay teams. Her time in the 800 was a meet record.

"That was kind of one of my goals going into the meet," Thomas said.

Thomas was especially pleased with the two relays and how her freshman teammates performed.

The two relay squads included Caitlin Fransen, Karlie Storkson and Sami McDevitt, all freshmen. The Knights finished in 1:49.84 in the 800 relay and 4:09.18 in the 1,600 relay.

"In the girls 4 by 4 we were one second from our time last year here at the King's Invitational," Thomas said. "That was surprising. It was three new girls. The team that we had last year we had for three years. So it was a really big transition and that was exciting to run a really good time."

Added Gouge, "That group of freshmen girls is really tough."

King's junior Adele Eslinger won the 3,200 in 11:52.98 and junior Sarah Blatchford finished first in the pole vault with an 8 feet, 8 inch mark. Sophomore Alex Ballenger had a pair of second-place finishes in the high jump (5 feet) and the discus (100-7).

Thomas hasn't yet gone for what she describes as a "super amazing time" but is satisfied with what she's been running.

"I've been really working on my speed," she said. "I've gotten the times in the shorter events that I've wanted to get. I guess I'm where I want to be right now. When it comes down to state, I know I can be a good competitor."

The same should be said of senior Josh Fuller, who swept the boys 100 (11.31), 200 (22.89) and 400 (49.7).

"I'm happy with them (times)," Fuller said. "I know that they're going to get a lot faster."

As the competition becomes tougher, Fuller expects his times will start to drop. He is happy with the way his senior season has gone, especially since he's been able to run throughout the season.

"Last year was injury prone," Fuller said. "I raced a ton more than last year. For that I'm thankful."

His goals in the next couple of weeks include breaking 11 seconds in the 100, go under 50 second in the 400 and try to run his fastest time in the 200.

"We're just really loaded this year," Gouge said of King's boys team. "We're enjoying another season with these guys like Fuller ... So long as we stay pretty healthy. I think we should be on a nice run. We're going to try and trophy again at state."

Sophomore Curtis Clauson won the javelin with a throw of 163 feet. He placed third (41-5) in the triple jump and was sixth (43.08) in the 300 hurdles. Clauson was 11th (18-10.5) in the long jump.

"He's been battling with a little bit of a hamstring injury," Gouge said. "We've been tinkering with some of his events. ... To be able to throw 160 with that bad hamstring was a real success. He kind of powered through his other events. We're just trying to get him healthy.

"If we get him healthy, we'll probably see him pushing 180 in the javelin and then we have to decide what events we're going to put him in for districts and state. He's good in both hurdles, both jumps and the javelin. The javelin is probably his only event for sure."

King's 1,600 relay team of Nate Faubio, Zack Berg, Fuller and Alex Masaki finished second (3:33.68). Senior John Burley was second (21-1.25) in the long jump.

Shoreline Christian's Sarah Daigneault won the girls 100 hurdles in 16.21. She also finished seventh (14-6.5) in the long jump.